At the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention, America’s largest Protestant denomination, representatives passed a resolution expressing — as expected, based on Southern Baptist Theological Seminary dean Russell D. Moore’s previous statements — dismay over BP’s Gulf of Mexico oil spill. They also affirmed opposition to the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy against openly gay troops and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act’s sexual orientation and gender identity protection language (Happy Gay and Lesbian Pride Month?), and approved structural changes to address a decline in baptisms.

As GetReligion pointed out earlier this week, this year’s gathering did not attract as much media attention as in the past — despite the enticing Orlando, Fla. location — but you can check out the details posted by The Baptist Press. the coverage in the Orlando Sentinel, and these links for more information:

• Southern Baptists Critique Big Oil, Oppose Gay Policies (Religion News Service)
• The Great Commission Resurgence Debate (Christianity Today)
• Southern Baptists’ budget vote shapes new evangelism approach (Nashville Tennessean)
• Scholar Skeptical of Baptist Resolution (Lakeland Ledger) 
• Baptist overhaul OK’d (Courier-Journal)

Check back for updates and share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

*Click here to subscribe to Belief Beat and click here to follow Belief Beat on Twitter.